1. Xie ke huang (crab shell pie, 蟹壳黄)

Why we love it: Although those hairy crustaceans from Yangcheng lake aren’t available year-round, xie ke huang, aka the poor Shanghainese man’s hairy crab, can be found around the town in any season.

Baked in a clay oven until golden brown, these little oval pies are stuffed with sweet or savory fillings. The name is inspired by its appearance -- freshly baked xie ke huang look like crispy golden crab shells.

Where to get it: We've been coming back for Wuyuan Bingjia’s savory xie ke huang for years, despite the grouchy service.

Why we love it: It’s hard to resist succulent pork buns, especially when they are fried and garnished with fresh spring onion and toasted sesame.

They taste best just out of the pan -- totally worth the blisters on your tongue.

Where to get it: Xiao Yang Sheng Jian is the best-known fried bun restaurant in town, but our favorite place is a little joint named Bu Cuo Sheng Jian Wang on the corner of Fujian Zhong Lu and Guangdong Lu. For RMB 6, you can get four sinfully delicious buns.

Shanghainese deep-fried pork chop usually come with a couple of rice cakes.

5. Pai gu nian gao (pork chop with rice cakes, 排骨年糕)

Why we love it: The best part of this Shanghainese dish is neither the deep-fried pork chop nor the sweet-soy sauce glaze, it’s the nian gao.

Made of glutinous rice flour, nian gao has a compact texture that seals the subtle, fragrant taste of sticky rice from any heavy sauce.

Where to get it: Proudly naming itself after the dish, Xiandelai’s pork chops and rice cakes are a must-try. Remember to sweet-talk the ayi behind the counter to giving you a freshly fried serving because it tastes like heaven while piping hot.

Why we love it: RMB 4 usually gets you eight of these velvety and delicate Shanghai classics. The cure for any hunger pang, these are seriously good.

Where to get it: Everywhere. That is the greatest thing about xiaolongbao -- they can be ordered at five-star restaurants, malls, food courts and street stalls. Our favorite, though, are from the stall on the corner of Yunnan Nan Lu and Jinling Dong Lu.

7. Chai Pan wonton (柴爿馄饨)

Why we love it: Nothing beats a bowl of warm wonton soup at 3 a.m. on a freezing winter night.

We know the soup is laden with MSG, and the cart and cookers haven’t been cleaned for at least a decade, but one bite of the translucent wrapper and its tasty pork stuffing, and you’ll know it's worth it.

Where to get it: Chaipan Wonton stands used to be seen on every street corner after 8 p.m., but only a few remain. Take a stroll down Jinling Dong Lu after a night on the Bund; you should be able to cap your Moët and foie gras with RMB 5 worth of joy in a bowl.

12. Hong shan yu (baked sweet potato, 烘山芋)

Why we love it: Sweet, fluffy, and fibrous, these baked sweet potatoes are a nice contrast to most cheap eats in Shanghai. Usually sold out of a pushcart, they are one of the healthiest snacks in town.

Where to get it: We ran into a vendor pushing her cart on Dongping Lu. “I go wherever the crowd is," she told us. So our advice is to find a crowd, and try and track down this RMB 3-7 (based on weight) snack.

16. Ma qiu (sesame ball, 麻球)

Why we love it: If you’re a fan of red bean and sesame, ma qiu is the perfect treat for you. These glutinous dough balls are filled with sweet red bean paste and coated with white sesame. They are then deep-fried until golden brown.

Where to get it: Xiangyang Lu has been hit with some serious road construction recently, but that hasn’t stopped loyal fans from queuing up outside Wanghaowang for its crispy, sweet sesame balls.

17. Guo tie (pot stickers, 锅贴)

Why we love it: Pot stickers were born when a fried bun and a dumpling fell in love. From the dumpling, it inherited its elegant appearance; and from the fried bun, it inherited a sizzling personality. Need we say more?

Where to get it: Shengji Yipin offers some excellent pork guo tie (RMB 4 for four). If pork isn’t your thing, try the beef pot stickers (RMB 7 for four) from Hushangting. These juicy pockets of ground beef taste best when dipped in vinegar and chili sauce.

Why we love it: They might only be eggs hard boiled in green tea and soy sauce, but tea eggs are Shanghai's go-to snack -- they can be found in every convenient store, breakfast stand and small-scale Chinese eatery.

Where to get it: Head to the nearest Lawson or Family Mart and get your daily tea egg fix for RMB 1.

Delicious, old-school Shanghainese qiang bing.

19. Qiang bing (puffy pancake, 羌饼)

Why we love it: The older generations in Shanghai grew up eating qiangbing at the breakfast table. Made of lightly salted dough and chopped spring onions, this large round bing is often cooked in a flat pan until it's puffy and golden brown.

Where to get it: It’s a shame that this greasy, savory, stuffing-free bing has become a rare find in Shanghai.

A lot of breakfast stands still offer the thinner version, but for an authentic taste, prepare to get up early to grab a slice (RMB 1.5) at a nameless hole-in-the-wall restaurant near People’s Square.

20. Shuang dang or dan dang soup (双档或单档)

Why we love it: Shuang dang and dan dang soup used to be the stars of Shanghai’s nighttime street food scene, but they are now available mostly in small restaurants.

A bowl of dan dang soup includes a pork-stuffed tofu-skin wrap and a diced-shaped fried tofu nub also filled with minced pork, and sometimes a handful of glass noodles.

When served with double portion of wraps and tofu pieces, the snack becomes shuang dang.

Where to get it: Try the MSG-free version of this classic Shanghainese tofu and pork soup (RMB 6) at Fuchun Xiaolong. Paired up with a steamer of the restaurant’s xiaolongbao, it makes for a delicious meal.

21. Kebabs (烤串)

Why we love it: Few things taste better at four in the morning than a few grilled kebabs. Our favorite is of course the yang rou chuan (羊肉串) -- lamb kebabs.

Perfectly seasoned with cumin and paprika, they make for a perfect ending to any night out.

Where to get it: The kebab stand on the corner of Wulumuqi Bei Lu and Yuyuan Lu. It grills some pretty mean lamb for around RMB 2 per stick.

Corner of Yuyuan Lu and Wulumuqi Bei Lu 愚园路, 近乌鲁木齐北路, no fixed hours

What would you like in the bing? Eggs, ham, bacon, or even cheese?

22. Taiwan shouzhua bing (Taiwanese pancake, 台湾手抓饼)

Why we love it: We aren’t sure if shouzhua bing (from RMB 4) really originated from Taiwan. What we do know is that this greasy, yet incredible tasting bing has captured the hearts and stomachs of Shanghai population.

Where to get it: Shouzhua bing tastes wonderful all by its puffy, doughy self, but the joint on Xiangyang Bei Lu offers numerous toppings to add to the Taiwanese delight.

24. Shaxian steamed dumplings (沙县蒸饺)

Why we love it: In the past decade, this legendary Fujianese snack has conquered most of the first and second-tier cities in China, and most recently the metropolitan area of Shanghai. These flower-petal-shaped steamed pork dumplings taste gorgeous with just a few drops of Fujianese chili sauce.

Where to get it: The fact that Shaxian is one of the biggest chain eateries in China guarantees a certain standard to the quality of its dumplings.

The location on the corner of Fahuazhen Lu and Yan’an Xi Lu is where post-party munchers can grab a bite after a late-night Yuyintang show.

Pick your veggie and meat on sticks, they will be turned into a bowl of spicy soup in a wink.

27. Malatang (numb, spicy soup, 麻辣烫)

Why we love it: After this popular street snack from Sichuan adapted itself to satisfy Shanghainese taste buds, it quickly became a local favorite.

A humble version of hotpot, you pick your own skewered vegetables and meat from the shelf (from RMB 1), and get staff to boil them together in chicken or pork broth.

Where to get it: If you are anywhere near People’s Square, Tiantianwang is probably the best malatang joint in the entire neighborhood. The 24-hour eatery is clean, fresh and the soup is absolutely delicious.

29. Duck neck (鸭脖)

Why we love it: Don’t let the thought of chewing a piece of bony duck neck put you off -- these less-than-appetizing-looking tubes are actually full of delicious lean meat.

Pick a cool autumn evening and invite a couple of friends over for board games, cold beer and some spicy duck necks. You’ll know what we are talking about.

Where to get it: There are duck neck stores all over the city, but our favorite is a chain called Juewei. Choose the savory jiang xiang flavor or spice it up with a bit of zhong la (medium spicy) flavor (RMB 33/500 grams).

31. Man tou (steamed buns, 馒头)

Why we love it: With a history spanning more than 1,800 years, these puffy man tou, or bao zi as they are known in northern China, were probably the world's fast-food; not to mention they are cheaper and healthier than their modern day fast-food contemporaries.

Where to get it: We occasionally stumble upon some small, back alley man tou stand. But most of the time, we prefer to sate our bun cravings at Babi, a popular chain that never disappoints.

Apart from the traditional pork buns (RMB1. 5) and veggie and mushroom buns (RMB 1.2), we also love the glass noodle and pork buns (RMB 1.5) as well as shepherd's-purse and pork bun (RMB 1.5).

Why we love it: We love Portuguese-style egg tarts, and in Shanghai, Lillian Cake Shop is synonymous with this eternally popular pastry.

With the store motto: “We probably have the best egg tarts in town,” who can resist this sweet treat?

Where to get it: Lillian does consistently tasty Portuguese-style egg tarts with soft, flaky crusts and a filling just like crême brûlée.

They fly off the shelves after 5 p.m. during rush hours. Plus, they seem to be present on every busy downtown corner. (Are they the cause of Shanghai's eternal traffic jams or sweet relief? Something we'll continue to ponder.)

34. Niu rou bing (beef pancake, 牛肉饼)

Why we love it: A meaty, spicy version of the Shanghainese cong you bing, Xi’an’s niu rou bing is known for its crispy dough exterior and ground beef stuffing, which is marinated in Sichuan peppercorns.

A small bite will have your tongue tingling and your heart warmed up a few degrees.

Where to get it: Head to the Apple store on Huaihai Zhong Lu and let your nose guide you across the street until you see this authentic Xi’an niu rou bing window on Songshan Lu.